IELTS Essay: Roads
As the number of cars increases, more money has to be spent on road systems. Some people think the government should pay for this. Others, however, think that drivers should cover the costs.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some today have argued that the funding for road systems should be the responsibility of governments instead of individuals. In my opinion, although maintaining roads can be considered a public service, private motorists should pay in order to more generally benefit society.
Proponents of governments assuming road costs argue this is a basic service tax-payers expect. In all countries, working adults must pay a certain percentage of their monthly salary to the government. From these contributions, individuals justly feel entitled to a variety of public services ranging from police and fire departments to affordable hospitals and safe infrastructure. Roads are a key component in this contract as most people drive in order to go to work, see friends, and take holidays. The government will itself benefit not only from fulfilling this mandate but also in terms of the financial byproduct of consumers being outside actively contributing to a market economy.
However, forcing drivers to pay these costs will greatly discourage private automobile ownership. This disincentive is crucial today because cities are overcrowded and private vehicles contribute to rising pollution levels. In large cities such as New York City and Tokyo, it is nearly impossible to traverse the city by automobile at peak rush hours. If there were fewer cars on the road, then people could travel more freely on bicycles, on foot, and using public transportation. Additionally, private vehicles are inefficient. Other forms of travel leave relatively small carbon footprints but cars, often carrying only one or two passengers, use more petrol than would normally be required to transport people. Replace cars with more efficient transport options and there would be a marked decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels.
In conclusion, despite the strong argument that tax-payers deserve public infrastructure such as roads, it is more important to discourage individuals from purchasing cars. In the long-term, this will greatly benefit cities and the world as a whole.
Analysis
1. Some today have argued that the funding for road systems should be the responsibility of governments instead of individuals. 2. In my opinion, although maintaining roads can be considered a public service, private motorists should pay in order to more generally benefit society.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Proponents of governments assuming road costs argue this is a basic service tax-payers expect. 2. In all countries, working adults must pay a certain percentage of their monthly salary to the government. 3. From these contributions, individuals justly feel entitled to a variety of public services ranging from police and fire departments to affordable hospitals and safe infrastructure. 4. Roads are a key component in this contract as most people drive in order to go to work, see friends, and take holidays. 5. The government will itself benefit not only from fulfilling this mandate but also in terms of the financial byproduct of consumers being outside actively contributing to a market economy.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- You might add a counterpoint here.
1. However, forcing drivers to pay these costs will greatly discourage private automobile ownership. 2. This disincentive is crucial today because cities are overcrowded and private vehicles contribute to rising pollution levels. 3. In large cities such as New York City and Tokyo, it is nearly impossible to traverse the city by automobile at peak rush hours. 4. If there were fewer cars on the road, then people could travel more freely on bicycles, on foot, and using public transportation. 5. Additionally, private vehicles are inefficient. 6. Other forms of travel leave relatively small carbon footprints but cars, often carrying only one or two passengers, use more petrol than would normally be required to transport people. 7. Replace cars with more efficient transport options and there would be a marked decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Continue your development.
- This paragraph can be longer.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
1. In conclusion, despite the strong argument that tax-payers deserve public infrastructure such as roads, it is more important to discourage individuals from purchasing cars. 2. In the long-term, this will greatly benefit cities and the world as a whole.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some today have argued that the funding for road systems should be the responsibility of governments instead of individuals. In my opinion, although maintaining roads can be considered a public service, private motorists should pay in order to more generally benefit society.
Proponents of governments assuming road costs argue this is a basic service tax-payers expect. In all countries, working adults must pay a certain percentage of their monthly salary to the government. From these contributions, individuals justly feel entitled to a variety of public services ranging from police and fire departments to affordable hospitals and safe infrastructure. Roads are a key component in this contract as most people drive in order to go to work, see friends, and take holidays. The government will itself benefit not only from fulfilling this mandate but also in terms of the financial byproduct of consumers being outside actively contributing to a market economy.
However, forcing drivers to pay these costs will greatly discourage private automobile ownership. This disincentive is crucial today because cities are overcrowded and private vehicles contribute to rising pollution levels. In large cities such as New York City and Tokyo, it is nearly impossible to traverse the city by automobile at peak rush hours. If there were fewer cars on the road, then people could travel more freely on bicycles, on foot, and using public transportation. Additionally, private vehicles are inefficient. Other forms of travel leave relatively small carbon footprints but cars, often carrying only one or two passengers, use more petrol than would normally be required to transport people. Replace cars with more efficient transport options and there would be a marked decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels.
In conclusion, despite the strong argument that tax-payers deserve public infrastructure such as roads, it is more important to discourage individuals from purchasing cars. In the long-term, this will greatly benefit cities and the world as a whole.
Answers
Some today have argued that many people have made the point that
funding money, resources
road systems streets
responsibility of governments duty of the authorities
maintaining roads keeping streets up
considered a public service for the public good
private motorists people who drive their own vehicles
pay in order to more generally benefit society give money to help everyone out
Proponents of people who support
assuming road costs taking on the expense of streets
basic service tax-payers expect minimum that people who pay taxes want
certain percentage of their monthly salary to the government some amount of their money every month to the state
contributions what they give
feel entitled to a variety of public services ranging from police and fire departments to affordable hospitals and safe infrastructure think they should get things from the government related to health, safety, and roads/buildings
key component crucial part of
contract deal
in order to so that
take holidays go on a trip
benefit not only from fulfilling this mandate good not only to satisfy the deal
in terms of concerning
financial byproduct economic result
consumers being outside actively contributing to a market economy people who buy things adding to the consumer market
forcing drivers to pay these costs making people who drive pay for it
greatly discourage private automobile ownership make people not want to own cars
disincentive does not encourage people to do it
crucial key
overcrowded overpopulated
private vehicles contribute to rising pollution levels cars add to more climate change
In large cities such as in big urban areas like
nearly impossible almost can’t happen
traverse go across
automobile at peak rush hours car when it gets busy
freely when they want
Additionally also
inefficient not a productive way
relatively small carbon footprints comparatively little added to pollution
carrying bringing along
petrol gas
normally be required to usually have to
Replace take the place of
transport options ways of getting around
marked decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels big fall in the use of gas
despite the strong argument that tax-payers deserve regardless of the good point citizens should get
discourage not encourage
In the long-term over time
greatly benefit cities and the world as a whole help urban areas and the whole Earth
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
sʌm təˈdeɪ hæv ˈɑːgjuːd ðæt
ˈfʌndɪŋ
rəʊd ˈsɪstɪmz
rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti ɒv ˈgʌvnmənts
meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ rəʊdz
kənˈsɪdəd ə ˈpʌblɪk ˈsɜːvɪs
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈməʊtərɪsts
peɪ ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː mɔː ˈʤɛnərəli ˈbɛnɪfɪt səˈsaɪəti
prəˈpəʊnənts ɒv
əˈsjuːmɪŋ rəʊd kɒsts
ˈbeɪsɪk ˈsɜːvɪs tæks-ˈpeɪəz ɪksˈpɛkt
ˈsɜːtn pəˈsɛntɪʤ ɒv ðeə ˈmʌnθli ˈsæləri tuː ðə ˈgʌvnmənt
ˌkɒntrɪˈbjuːʃənz
fiːl ɪnˈtaɪtld tuː ə vəˈraɪəti ɒv ˈpʌblɪk ˈsɜːvɪsɪz ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm pəˈliːs ænd ˈfaɪə dɪˈpɑːtmənts tuː əˈfɔːdəbl ˈhɒspɪtlz ænd seɪf ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
kiː kəmˈpəʊnənt
ˈkɒntrækt
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː
teɪk ˈhɒlədeɪz
ˈbɛnɪfɪt nɒt ˈəʊnli frɒm fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ ðɪs ˈmændeɪt
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
faɪˈnænʃəl ˈbaɪˌprɒdʌkt
kənˈsjuːməz ˈbiːɪŋ ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ˈæktɪvli kənˈtrɪbju(ː)tɪŋ tuː ə ˈmɑːkɪt i(ː)ˈkɒnəmi
ˈfɔːsɪŋ ˈdraɪvəz tuː peɪ ðiːz kɒsts
ˈgreɪtli dɪsˈkʌrɪʤ ˈpraɪvɪt ˈɔːtəməʊbiːl ˈəʊnəʃɪp.
ˌdɪsɪnˈsɛntɪv
ˈkruːʃəl
ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪd
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈviːɪklz kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t tuː ˈraɪzɪŋ pəˈluːʃən ˈlɛvlz
ɪn lɑːʤ ˈsɪtiz sʌʧ æz
ˈnɪəli ɪmˈpɒsəbl
ˈtrævə(ː)s
ˈɔːtəməʊbiːl æt piːk rʌʃ ˈaʊəz
ˈfriːli
əˈdɪʃənli
ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt
ˈrɛlətɪvli smɔːl ˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnts
ˈkæriɪŋ
ˈpɛtrəl
ˈnɔːməli biː rɪˈkwaɪəd tuː
rɪˈpleɪs
ˈtrænspɔːt ˈɒpʃənz
mɑːkt ˈdiːkriːs ɪn ðə kənˈsʌmpʃ(ə)n ɒv ˈfɒsl fjʊəlz
dɪsˈpaɪt ðə strɒŋ ˈɑːgjʊmənt ðæt tæks-ˈpeɪəz dɪˈzɜːv
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤ
ɪn ðə ˈlɒŋtɜːm
ˈgreɪtli ˈbɛnɪfɪt ˈsɪtiz ænd ðə wɜːld æz ə həʊl
Vocabulary Practice
S__________________________________t the f___________g for r______________s should be the r_________________________________s instead of individuals. In my opinion, although m________________s can be c____________________________e, p_____________________s should p__________________________________________y.
P_________________f governments a_______________________s argue this is a b____________________________t. In all countries, working adults must pay a c___________________________________________________________t. From these c______________s, individuals justly f___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________e. Roads are a k__________________t in this c__________t as most people drive i___________o go to work, see friends, and t____________s. The government will itself b_____________________________________________e but also i____________f the f_____________________t of c_____________________________________________________________y.
However, f_________________________________s will g______________________________________p. This d____________e is c_________l today because cities are o______________d and p_______________________________________s. I________________s New York City and Tokyo, it is n_______________e to t__________e the city by a_________________________s. If there were fewer cars on the road, then people could travel more f________y on bicycles, on foot, and using public transportation. A_______________y, private vehicles are i________________t. Other forms of travel leave r__________________________________s but cars, often c________g only one or two passengers, use more p________l than would n________________________o transport people. R__________e cars with more efficient t______________________s and there would be a m______________________________________________s.
In conclusion, d____________________________________________e public infrastructure such as roads, it is more important to d__________________e individuals from purchasing cars. I________________m, this will g_________________________________________________e.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.sixt.com/magazine/travel/best-roads-in-the-world/
Speaking Practice
Driving
- Do you like driving?
- Where was the last place you drove?
- Where do you like to sit in a car?
- Is driving common in your country?
Writing Practice
Some people think that the best way to increase road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving cars and riding motorbikes.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Very helpful
Yes